Set-Aside Pulse (Unrestricted): TRICARE Claims Review bridge, VA Brand-Name Spyglass, and two planning signals (ARPA-H + AFLCMC)
Related opportunities
Executive takeaway
Two related Defense Health Agency notices make the near-term picture clear: TRICARE Claims Review Services (TCRS) is slated for a sole-source, mission-critical bridge extension to the incumbent to avoid a gap while the government transitions to a competitively awarded follow-on. If you are not the incumbent, this is best treated as a positioning and market-research moment—submit a capability statement if you truly match the described work, then focus capture energy on the anticipated follow-on.
Separately, the Iowa City VA Health Care System has an unrestricted, brand-name-only RFQ for a Spyglass Discover Package with an explicit reminder to include a Buy American certificate. In the “watch and prepare” category, ARPA-H posted an amended Special Notice for a BIOGAMI Proposers’ Day, and AFLCMC released an RFI for SBOM generation and vulnerability analysis software licensing aligned to a draft SOW.
What the buyer is trying to do
Defense Health Agency: keep TCRS running with no service gap
DHA’s Contracting Activity (Managed Care Contracting Division) is signaling intent to extend the existing TCRS contract to continue support to the Improper Payment Evaluation Branch (IPEB). The work supports identifying and reporting improper payments and discrepancies in payment recording for the Military Health System (MHS), including review of purchased-care contractor compliance with TRICARE policies/directives by evaluating claims payment accuracy and payment record coding across multiple TRICARE-related contracts (including MCSC, TMEP, TPharm, TOP, and ADDP).
The notices state the bridge extension is needed to prevent a gap after the current contract ends on February 28, 2026, and to allow time for transition to a competitively awarded follow-on TCRS contract. The government cites transition-in realities (recruiting/training, personnel security, system security, and connectivity) and notes a new contractor would require a minimum of six months for transition-in.
VA: buy a brand-name-only “Spyglass Discover Package” supply
The VA posting is a combined synopsis/solicitation using simplified acquisition procedures for a brand-name-only Spyglass Discover Package for the Iowa City VA Health Care System. Quotes are being requested, and the notice specifically reminds offerors to include a Buy American certificate with the quote.
ARPA-H: socialize a newly approved research program
ARPA-H issued an amended Special Notice providing updated information for the BIOmolecular Grammar for protein Aggregation Modulation and Intervention (BIOGAMI) Proposers’ Day and included a lightning talk template in the attachment. This is a community alert and engagement signal, not a bid-ready procurement on its own.
AFLCMC: market research for SBOM + vulnerability analysis licensing
AFLCMC posted an RFI to gather information for planning purposes for a commercial SBOM generation and vulnerability analysis solution, structured as a base one-year software license plus four one-year options, tied to a draft SOW in the attachments.
What work is implied (bullets)
- TCRS (DHA): Independent, impartial review of claims processing procedures and reimbursement methodologies used by purchased-care contractors.
- TCRS (DHA): Assess purchased-care contractor compliance with TRICARE policies/directives by evaluating claims payment accuracy and payment record coding (referenced: MCSC, TMEP, TPharm, TOP, ADDP).
- TCRS (DHA): Support identification and reporting of improper payments/discrepancies for publication in DoD Agency Financial Report reporting to OMB (as described in the notice).
- TCRS (DHA): Transition-in activities requiring recruiting/training, personnel security, system security, and connectivity (explicitly called out as drivers for the bridge extension).
- VA Spyglass (Supply RFQ): Provide the Spyglass Discover Package (brand name only) per attached CLIN structure, quantities, and units of measure (verify in attachments).
- AFLCMC SBOM RFI: Provide commercial software licensing that meets requirements in the attached draft SOW for SBOM generation and vulnerability analysis; base plus options (details in attachment).
- ARPA-H BIOGAMI: Prepare for Proposers’ Day engagement and potential future submission mechanics (lightning talk template provided; details in attachment).
Who should bid / who should pass (bullets)
- Bid / engage: Current or credible near-term suppliers for the VA brand-name Spyglass Discover Package who can submit a compliant quote (including the Buy American certificate) by the stated deadline.
- Bid / engage: Firms with a commercial SBOM generation and vulnerability analysis product that can map cleanly to the draft SOW should consider responding to the AFLCMC RFI to shape acquisition strategy.
- Engage (positioning only): Organizations with deep TRICARE claims review / payment integrity evaluation experience that can substantiate equivalency should consider submitting a capability statement for TCRS (even though the action is described as a sole-source bridge).
- Pass (near-term): Teams seeking an immediately winnable competitive award for TCRS should not treat this bridge notice as a bid opportunity; it is explicitly framed as a sole-source extension with no solicitation/quotes for the bridge.
- Pass (unless you can comply): VA Spyglass resellers/distributors who cannot support brand-name-only or cannot provide the requested Buy American certificate should avoid spending cycles.
Response package checklist
- TCRS capability statement: A concise capability statement outlining ability to perform the described TCRS work (as requested in the notice). Include evidence of ability to satisfy personnel security, system security, and connectivity requirements (verify specific formats in attachments, if any).
- VA RFQ quote package: Complete RFQ response per the attached solicitation, including CLIN pricing and any required representations (verify in attachments).
- Buy American certificate: Include with VA quote (explicit reminder in the notice).
- SAM registration: Ensure active registration prior to offer submission for the VA RFQ (explicitly stated).
- RFI submission (AFLCMC): Provide product/licensing information responsive to the draft SOW and requested RFI inputs (verify exact submission instructions in attachments).
- ARPA-H Proposers’ Day: Use the provided lightning talk template if participating (details and any deadlines: verify in attachment).
Pricing & strategy notes (how to research pricing; do not invent pricing numbers)
DHA TCRS (bridge): The notices describe a sole-source bridge extension to the incumbent, so “pricing strategy” here is less about competing the bridge and more about preparing for the follow-on. Use this window to:
- Map the described TCRS functions (claims payment accuracy review, coding evaluation, compliance assessment) into labor categories and workflows you can defend in a future competitive environment.
- Identify what you would need to compress the cited minimum six-month transition-in risk (staffing pipeline, training approach, security/system readiness) and quantify that in a future proposal narrative.
VA Spyglass RFQ: The posting anticipates a firm-fixed-price award. Pricing research should start with the attached CLIN structure and required quantities/units (in the attachment). Validate your ability to deliver brand-name-only items and factor compliance items called out in the RFQ (including Buy American documentation).
AFLCMC SBOM RFI: Treat the RFI as an opportunity to influence how licensing is structured (base plus options). Align any price-model discussion to commercial license norms and clearly map capabilities to the draft SOW requirements (attachment-driven).
Subcontracting / teaming ideas (bullets)
- TCRS follow-on positioning: Pair claims/payment integrity analysts with organizations experienced in personnel security and system security/connectivity onboarding to reduce transition-in friction (the notices flag these as gating items).
- TCRS domain depth: Team with firms experienced in evaluating claims payment and payment record coding for TRICARE-related purchased-care contracts (as referenced in the notice) to strengthen credibility.
- SBOM solution (AFLCMC RFI): If you have a strong platform but gaps in SBOM generation or vulnerability analysis workflows, consider partnering with a complementary product vendor so you can respond more completely to the draft SOW.
Risks & watch-outs (bullets)
- TCRS is a sole-source bridge: One notice states a solicitation document will not be issued and quotations will not be requested for the bridge action; do not invest as if a competitive bid is imminent for the bridge itself.
- Short clock for capability statements: Interested parties are invited to submit capability statements by the time set forth in the synopsis—confirm the exact timing in the posting and respond quickly if you intend to engage.
- Transition-in burden: The government explicitly cites a minimum six-month transition-in due to recruiting/training, personnel security, and system security/connectivity. Any follow-on capture plan that ignores this will be less credible.
- VA RFQ compliance: The Buy American certificate is specifically called out; missing it could render a quote noncompliant.
- Attachment-driven requirements: For the VA RFQ and AFLCMC RFI, key technical and submission requirements live in attachments; verify all details there.
Related opportunities
- TRICARE Claims Review Services (TCRS) (RFI context / bridge extension signal)
- TRICARE Claims Review Services (TCRS) (Notice of Intent for bridge extension)
- Spyglass Discover Package (VA RFQ, brand name only)
- FA830726RB019 – SBOM Vulnerability Scanning RFI
- BIOGAMI Proposers’ Day (ARPA-H Special Notice)
How to act on this
- Decide which lane you’re in: near-term quoting (VA Spyglass), market-shaping (AFLCMC SBOM RFI), or positioning (DHA TCRS follow-on).
- Pull and read the attachments: especially for the VA RFQ CLINs/requirements and the AFLCMC draft SOW (both are attachment-dependent).
- Build a compliant package: include the Buy American certificate for the VA RFQ; for DHA, submit a focused capability statement if you can credibly match the described TCRS work.
- Start follow-on capture: for TCRS, document how you would handle the cited transition-in constraints (recruiting/training, personnel security, system security/connectivity).
If you want help triaging fit, building a compliant response package, or setting a capture plan for the expected TCRS follow-on, engage Federal Bid Partners LLC for hands-on proposal and capture support.